New Board Members Elected at Annual Member Meeting During ACA 2020 – The Summit of Angel Investing


By: Emily Angold, ACA Marketing Manager

Three new board members were elected at the ACA Annual Members’ Meeting during ACA 2020 – The Summit of Angel Investing held virtually May 12-14, 2020.  In addition to the election of the new board members, one current board member was re-elected for a second term and a Vice Chair was elected.  The Board of Directors is currently made up of 15 members and four Chairs Emeritus. 

The Board of Directors focuses on supporting the success of angel investors through industry voice, professional development and public policy advocacy while maintaining the mission and values of the Angel Capital Association.  Selection criteria for board nominations includes, individual knowledge and expertise, constituent group representation, geographic balance, committee service needs and energy directed toward the strategic imperatives of the organization.

The incoming board members bring a wealth of expertise and thought leadership in ACA’s key areas of focus, in addition to proven results around ACA’s vision and mission.  Our incoming board members pledge to uphold the vision and goals of ACA while bringing their individual unique voice and ideas to the organization.  The ACA board terms coincide with the fiscal year, which begins July 1st.  Incoming Directors include:

Clay Rankin joins from Cleveland, OH and is Managing Director of North Coast Angel Fund (“NCAF”), a group of early stage investment funds he founded in 2006 to support early-stage technology companies.  In addition to joining ACA’s Board of Directors, Clay is a board member of University Circle Inc. and serves on multiple committees at Case Western Reserve University to include the Visiting Committee of the School of Engineering, the Corporate Advisory Board for the Master’s Degree In Engineering Management Program, and the Council to Advance Human Health at the School of Medicine.

Kelley Skoloda, from Pittsburgh, PA, is the Founder and CEO of KS Consulting & Capital LLC and co-founding member of the Next Act Fund.  Kelley also serves on the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation and Excela Health’s Boards of Trustees, where she sits on the Governance Committee. Kelley has served on the BlogHer/SheKnows advisory board, the Seton Hill University Board of Trustees and as a member of The TODAY Show Parenting Network.

Eli Velasquez of Boston, MA is the Director of Venture Development at VentureWell, founding partner of AcceslHUB Venture Partners and a member of Portolia Rising America Fund.  Eli also serves as an advisor for the Business Angel Minority Association (baMa), which aims to bridge the investment gap in minority-led startups or early-stage companies targeting minority driven markets.

Current ACA board member and Co-Chair of the ACA Marketing and Membership Committee, Marcia Dawood, will begin her new role as Vice Chair at the beginning of the 2021 fiscal year.  Peter Adams, ACA Secretary and Treasurer, and Managing Partner of Rockies Venture Club will begin his second term.

ACA extends many thanks to our members leaving the board for their hard work during their terms:

Linda Smith will continue as Chair Emeritus and ACA Public Policy Chair for the Angel Capital Association.  Kevin Learned will remain on the ACA Board as a member and as the Education & Smart Practices Chair.  The contributions of these individuals have enhanced the angel investor community and the Angel Capital Association.  Thank you!

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